Brake



P R. A. GOEPFRICH 2,384,297

BRAKE Filed June 29, 1942 l8 x 2%: a

'INVENTOR.

PuDoLFH A. GOEPFP/CH @o ind, u ccrsorstion cl ration, nth fiend, were Annliestlon .llune 2h, 2, hes-int No. senses v @lnlnae. l 7l. loses) which is movable relative to an axially movable member of the brake whenever the element con= tacts an axially fixed member of the brake, and a, one-way clutch connection between the element and the axially movable member, the position of the element being determinative of the released position of the axially movable member.

Other objects and features of my invention will be apparent during the course of the descrip= tion. Inbhe drawings:

Figure l is a composite view partly in section token on various planes psrullel to the plume in wch the brake drum rotates;

t on the lines 2-2, M respectively of Figure 1;

end

re 5 is an and elevation showing at washer and plunger combination which constitute an Y important t of my invention.

The hrske shown includes a rctstohle drum it having keyed thereto by means of a plurality of keys I? extending into channels in the rotor disk, a rotor disk it which, as shown, may be made up entirely of material having a high coeficient oi friction of the type usually used for brake lining. A support M which is incapable of either rotating or axially sliding movement is bolted to e. stntionery supporting plate ill (see Figure 3), and has secured thereto, preferably by welding, n friction dial: it which is adopted to set as a stator diet: and faces the rotor it. A second stator dish it is positioned on the onnosite side of the rotor disk and is secured against rotation but is console of axial movement toward end away from the rotor disk 53. l ne applying means for the orelae may consist oi an annular metal member ll which bears against the disk #6 and which is move-dole in the direction of said disk by inflation of an annular distensible tube or bag it, to which fluid under pressure may be itmd through on opening its. It will be ohvious that inflation of the tube ill will move the member i? and dish it? in an direction (1. e. along he about which the rotstnhle ill of the bruise assembly rotate) to force disk It into frietl contact with rotating disk is and to theter slide disk It axially along keys is to bring it also into contact with stationary disk it. The friction crested by squeezing rotetins disk is between stationery disks It and i5 is intended to impede and eventually stop rota.- tlon of the drum I i and of the vehicle wheel with which it is isted. A spring 25 bears against fixed support it and against disk it and, being in compression between them, urges disk is and through it inflatable tube It toward rele position. It will be appreciated that a plurality of such springs may he provided around the circumference of the broke.

Frictional contnct between the disls is and disks iii end it will cause wear or" sold disks, nartlculsrly dist: it. In order that such weer will not leave sleet: in the brake applying system, I heve provided on sutomstic adjustment device 202 retaining the cleerunce between disk is and support it substentislly"constent at all times. "the eutomstic adjustment device comprises a. plunger is one end of which contacts the sup port it which is iixedly mounted on "the vehicle and which retains the inflatable has it. The

plunger it extends through on opening 29 in disk it end s, surface 22 which normally rests is short distance sway from support ll whenever the opposite end of the plunger is in con-tact with support it. A knob or extension d3 oi smaller diameter than the rest of the plunger may extend through c complementary opening in support it to keep the plunger in line. A prcnged spring steel washer 2-5 is lined by suitable means to disk it end has an opening through the center thereof, preferably of slightly less clicmeter than the diameter of plunger 19. This spring washer acts as a one-way clutch in controlling movement of plunger it relative to disk it. Plunger i 9, whenever force is exerted against its surface 22 may move to the right relative to dist: is by flexing slightly the spring washer 25. However, movement of plunger it toward the left relative to disk it is prevented by spring washer 2 5, since such movement of the plunger would tend to wedge the inner portion of the washer between the plunger and disk 38.

The clearance between surface 2-2 of plunger it and support it when disk it is in released positlon should be equivalent to the desired clearsnce in the Busing operation of the brake, when pressure is erected in the expsnsible tube it, the clearance between surface 22 of plunger is and sunport it is first taken up. If

any lining is worn on during brake application, the spring washer 24 slides on the plunger or rod I! the exact amount that the lining has worn. On release of the brake return springs 2| return disk Ii until the rod or plunger 49 has contacted fixed support or plate 20. By maintaining a light constant presiure in the. fiuid pressure system, the inflatable tube it will be caused to follow up disk I! whenever adjustment causes the disk to be moved in the direction of rotating disk ll. The chief problem which complicates the provision of automaticjadiustments for drum type brakes is not present here, inasmuch as expansion due to heat will not effect the adjustment described herein. It is desirable desire to be limited in scope only by the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is: r i 1. In a disk brake having an axially movable member and an axially fixedmember, an automatic adjustment for maintaining substantially constant clearance in release between the members comprising an element which is movable relative to the axially movable member by contact with the axially fixed member and which determines the position in release of the axially movable member, and a one-way clutch connecting the element to allow movement of the element relative to the axially movable member in the direction urged by contact with the fixed membar but prevent movement of the element relative to the axially movable member in the opp site direction, said one-way clutch consisting of a spring washer fixed to said axially movable member and a plurality of radially inwardly extending fingers engaging said element.

2. A brake assembly comprising a fixed member, a rotatable member which is axially movable to come into frictional contact with the fixed member, a non-rotatable but axially movable member, means for exerting a pressure against the last-named member to force it into frictional contact with the rotatable member and press the rotatable member against the fixed member, resilient means urging the non-rotatable but axially movable member away from the fixed member toward released position, and means for determining the released position of the non-rotatable but axially movable member including a stop and an element contacting the stop and having a one-way clutch connection with the non-rotatable but axially movable member, said oneway clutch connection comprising a spring washer encircling said element, said element extending toward the fixed member and being movable toward the stop whenever it contacts the fixed member during application of the brake by the aforesaid pressure exerting means.

3. A disk brake assembly comprising a fixed member, a rotatable disk which is axially movable to come into frictional contact with the fixed member, a non-rotatable but axially movable disk, means for exerting a pressure against the last-named disk to force it into frictional contact with the rotatable disk and press the rotatable disk against the fixed member, resilient means urging the non-rotatable but axially movable disk away from the fixed member toward rethat three or four 01' these automatic units be leased position, and means for determining the released position of the non-rotatable but axially movable disk including a stop, an element contacting the stop, and a spring washer connecting element contacts the fixed member during application of the brake by the aforesaid pressure can erting means.

4. In a disk brake having an axially movable member. an axially fixed member, a rotatable member -therebetween,. and means for bringing the aforesaid members into frictional engagement with one another, an automatic adjustment .for maintaining substantially constant clearance in release between the axially movable member and the axially fixed member comprising an element movable relative to the axially movable member by contact with the axially fixed member, and a one-way clutch consisting of a spring washer peripherally fixed to said axially movable member and having a plurality of radially inwardly extending and slightly bowed fingers engaging the axially movable member to allow movement of the element relative to the axially movable member in the direction urged by contact with the fixed member but to prevent movement of the element relative to the axially movable member in the opposite direction.

5. In a disk brake having an axially movable member, an axially fixed member, a rotatable member therebetween, and means for bringing the aforesaid members into frictional engagement with one another, an automatic adjustment for maintaining substantially constant clearance in release between the axially movable member and the axially fixed member comprising an element which is movable relative to the axially movable member by contact with the axially fixed member and which determines the position in release of the axially movable mem; ber, and a one-way clutch consisting of a spring washer peripherally secured to the axially movable member and having a plurality of radially inwardly extending and slightly bowed fingers engaging the element to allow movement of the element relative to the axially movable member in the direction urged by contact with the fixed member butto prevent movement or the element relative to the axially movable member in the opposite direction.

6. An automatically adjusted disk brake comprising a fixed brake member, an axially movable non-rotatable brake member, a rotating and axially movable disk between said brake members, an element supported on the axially movable non-rotatable brake member and extending past the rotating disk to contact the fixed brake member, said element being caused to move relative to said axially movable non-rotatable brake member by contact with said fixed brake member, and a one-way clutch connecting said element to said axially movable non-rotatable brake member to allow movement of the element relative to said member in the direction in which it is urged by contact with the fixed brake member and prevent relative movement of said element in the opposite direction.

'7. An automatically adjusted disk brake comprising a fixed brake member, an axially movable non-rotatable brake member, a rotating and axher, and a one-way clutch connecting said element to said axially movable non-rotatable brake member to allow movement of the element relative to said member in the direction in which it is urged by contact with the fixed brake member and prevent relative movement of said element in the opposite direction.

Runoun- A. aon mzcu. 

